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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



ADNER WARD 



THE BOY CHRISTIAN 



THE CHRIST -LIFE IN CHILDHOOD 



BY 



G. S. Anderson. 

Author Bible Students' Primer; Editor Normal 

Baptist Teacher. 



Little Rock, Arkansas 



.WwAc 



Copyright 
1910 
By G. S. ANDERSON 



©CU261589 




ADNER WARD 

At the Age of Seven Years. 



PREFACE. 

Adner Ward was a real boy and not an imagin- 
ary character as some have supposed. Not a 
single fact is given in this biography that did not 
occur in connection with his life. The picture 
the frontispiece is a photograph taken when seven 
years of age. We have written it hoping to enlist 
the young in the higher ideals of life and stimu- 
late in them the enthusiasm of youthful piety, 
also to comfort the bereaved parent, and draw 
the line between human responsibility and God's 
sovereignty. 

Adner died when nine years and ten months 
old. We trust the life of the subject of our story 
may enlist and profit the reader as it has moved 
the author to deep inerest and real enhusiasm. 

The Author. 



Adner Ward, the Boy Christian. 



THE HOME. 

Just half mile below Eolin, the Blocton junc- 
tion, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, may be 
seen, from the car window, in passing, a residence 
of the farm order, sitting on a precipice or well- 
rounded cliff, seventy-five feet above the iron 
rails of the track. The house occupies the crest 
of a natural mound, whose base covers several 
acres of ground, and would be mistaken for an 
Indian mound which abound on American rivers 
but for the Geological formation of the various 
stratas of earth of which it is formed. The house 
was built just in the center of a half acre plateau, 
and looks out on the broken jagged chain of hills, 
covered with forest trees, that rise in front, and 
in the rear down upon the railroad, that runs in 
5 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

the valley, almost under the eaves. Each passing 
train breaks the monotony of rural life, and sup- 
plies fresh entertainment for the occupants of 
the home. Friends are often recognized, as their 
upturned faces in the car window are seen below, 
and friendly greetings exchanged with some 
member of the family. I must go and let this 
train by, is a common saying of little Emma, at 
the blowing of the train whistle. On one side of 
this novel mound, of natural formation occupied 
by the house, a deep ravine projects its winding 
way into the hills beyond. On the other side a 
cove, covered by forest trees, encircles a bold 
spring that breaks out in boiling, gushing billows 
from the earth, whirls in the pool excavated for 
the spring, and goes bounding and rollicking 
down its narrow pebbled bottom guage, into the 
creek below. The roar of its waters supplies 
ceaseless music for the home. Its murmurs in 
the dead of night speak as in the hush of bygone 
years that linger in saddened memories, or whis- 
6 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

per as the voice of angels that echo in joy from 
the bright shores of the glory world. The wooing 
notes of the cooing dove may be heard from the 
adjacent tree tops. The shrill call of the part- 
ridge rings out in the bottom lands below. The 
spectral warning of the midnight owl in the near 
by swamps haunts the disturbed slumber of the 
sleeper. Here on this mound-like hill, in this 
unpretentious house which nestles beneath the 
wide spreading branches of an immense water 
oak, once lived a remarkable child, so winning 
in the rare beauty of his life that a call is made 
for the chronicle of his memory, given in the 
pages that follow. 

ADNER WARD — HIS INFANCY. 

John Adner Ward was his full name, but as he 
was familiarly known and called Adner by the 
home circle and friends, this will be his name in 
this sketch of his life. Adner's infancy began in 
deep and anxious concern. He was the child of 
prayer. His parents had spent twelve years of 
7 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

their married life before he come to brighten the 
home. His mother was a woman cast in a large 
mould. She was stoutly built, with a strong face 
and discerning mind, rigid ideas of right and 
wrong, and given to the practical and spiritual 
ideals of life. The father was also a man of 
strength, bright, genial, tactful, upright and suc- 
cessful in business. They were married at the 
ages of twenty-one and two, and were happily 
joined in the joys and struggles of life. They 
had been brought up on a farm in Tuscaloosa 
County, Alabama, and were trained from youth 
in the social privileges and domestic duties of 
rural life. The first years of their married life 
were spent in the parental Ward home, till five 
years ago in 1905, they moved to Eolin, Bibb 
County, where they now reside. A sermon 
preached on the number seven, by the pastor at 
the end of five years of their married life, made 
a deep impression on the ardent spirit of the 
faithful wife. In the Scriptures seven expresses 
8 




ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

totality, completed circle, or perfection. It is the 
piophetic number, based on the seven colors of 
the rainbow, the seven octaves in music, the 
seven senses, and the seven days of the week. 
By it she was incited to pray to the Lord for the 
gift of a son. By faith Isaac was given to Sarah. 
In answer to prayer, Hannah was blest with the 
gift of Samuel. The Lord's graciousness to these 
honored servants of old fixed the convictions of 
the mother, and she believed the same Lord 
would likewise bestow the like favor upon her. 
Seven years her faith was tested, but at the end 
the home was gladdened with the coming of the 
subject of our story. In gift and prayer he was 
dedicated to the Lord by both parents. Their 
faith was great that in some way the child would 
greatly honor the Lord, and render to the world 
conspicuous service. As an infant, Adner filled 
the hearts, and was the chief occupant of the 
home circle. Parents and grandparents vied in 
attentions to him. The Grandfather Ward, in 
9 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

whose home they now lived, and who was a man 
of rare ability and keen insight, often said, There 
is something remarkable about this babe; look at 
hie penetrating eyes and discerning expression of 
face. I shall not live to see his greatness, but 
you may. He died when Adner was ten months 
old. He was the special attraction of the com- 
munity, and the charm of all visitors. His beauty, 
quick thought and winning ways captured all 
hearts. Before the age of three years his origi- 
nality was marked by special names he gave to 
different objects, the rooster he named, too, too, 
the hen, Sheo; the horse, woe-back; the hog 
suey; the cow, mon; the cat, litley; water, seep; 
fire, pus. Other familiar objects were likewise 
named by him in his own childish way. One day 
he saw the cat jump on the back of a horse when 
he cried out in great glee, See, mamma, litley on 
woe-back. In the face of corrections and usage 
be persisted in using these pet names exclusively 
until they wore off in the growing habits of boy- 
10 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

hood. Mrs. Woodall, a nearby neighbor, said of 
him: "We often went to the house to see the 
baby; he was so bright and cheerful. He began 
to try to talk before he was a year old, and had 
his own names for so many things, and was so 
bright and cute in his manners. We all thought 
there had never been such a baby. He seemed 
so knowing and quick to catch on." In speaking 
or his frequent morning visits to them, at the age 
of four years, when several members of the fam- 
ily were sick, she said: "I shall never forget the 
bright, cheerful little face that came every morn- 
ing and would say hello, calling each one by 
name, then would turn to me and say, 'How do 
you feel thiis morning, Mrs. Woodall?' I prayed 
for you last night; did you pray?" I was reck- 
less, and the child would look to knowingly in 
my face, I did not know what to answer. His 
parents gave his and ten of his little associates 
a Christmas dinner, followed by Santa Claus, 
personated by a masked person that distributed 
11 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

presents. When all were seated at the table, 
Adner looked around and asked, "Who will ask a 
blessing?" In response his father came in and 
returned thanks. Adner was the happiest one on 
the occasion. He seemed to appreciate the din- 
ner and the presents of each one. He was 
thoughtful and watchful, often calling to mama 
to help this or that one while Mrs. Ward was 
serving the children. When Santa Claus ap- 
peared some of the children were frightened and 
screamed for fear, but in his childish but manly 
way he quieted them by saying, "Sand boy won't 
hurt you." That evening my son got a thorn in 
his thumb. Adner stood and looked on sympa- 
thetically and said, "I am sorry for you, Mr. Joe. 
I will ask the Good Man [his name for Jesus] to 
make it get well." It seemed that he always ex- 
pected help from the Lord. All of us had to watch 
ourselves, for if we said anything rough he would 
tell us, that was not good, it was ugly, and say, 
"Do you pray?" At that time I did not pray, but 
12 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

that innocent face and child voice, I have never 
forgotten. It has haunted me till now, I never lie 
down without trying to pray, and I hope to live 
so as to meet the praying boy, and feel sure he is 
now where there is no need of prayer. 

A SUNDAY SCHOOL PUPIL. 

At the age of two years Adner was carried by 
his parents to the Sunday school. His name was 
enrolled as a scholar and regularly called, to 
which he gleefully answered from the start. He 
soon began to repeat the Golden Text. He join- 
ed in the singing before he could carry a tune. 
His parents taught him the Sunday school les- 
sons, read to him the Scriptures and told him 
Bible stories. Most of these stories he learned 
before he could read, and in simplest childlike 
faith believed them all without a doubt. He 
became fond of answering questions in the open 
Sunday school, and would startle those present 
with his apt and ready replies. He was deeply 
moved by the lesson, Jesus the Good Shepherd, 
13 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

feeding the sheep and caring for the lambs. 
When the Crucifixion was explained to him and 
the Savior's sufferings dwelt upon, the tears ran 
down his cheeks freely, and he sobbed deeply. 
On children's day and special occasions he was 
always bright and joyous, and ever had his penny 
or nickle to give. He delighted to give to every 
cause from the first. He was devoted to the 
Sunday school and church. They were the charm 
and inspiration of his week day life. His aspira- 
tions and joys turned to the Sabbath, and its 
privileges to him were sacred and sweet. 

HIS HOME LIFE. 

He was kept by his parents strictly in the 
home, and never allowed to associate with other 
than select companions. They constantly taught 
him the Scriptures, and brought him up strictly 
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His 
mother and father made themselves his intimate 
daily associates, and had their greatest pleasure 
in his companionship. His boyish prattle and 
14 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

charming personality made their lives joyous, 
and in turn their company became his attraction 
and charm. He greatly admired his father and 
yearned to be like him, and became his most in- 
timate associate and his mother's favorite and 
most entertaining comrade. They lovingly guided 
his thought and directed his footsteps, and he de- 
lighted to obey them in every wish. He prided 
himself most of all in being manlike, and would 
say I am a boy now but I want to make a good 
man. From the first his parents taught him to 
trust God in all things. He was the center of 
attraction with his little associates, who counted 
it an honor to play with Adner. To them he was 
affectionate, considerate and manly. Their at- 
tachments for him became very strong. Some 
of them still weep over his death, and beg the 
parents not to send them to school any more, 
since Adner is not there. He heartily enjoyed 
every species of childish sport. The bat, the 
ball, the harp, the horn, the building blocks, the 
15 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

marbles, the whip, the wagon, the goat, the tri- 
cycle, were all his. With them and his friends 
he rollicked and romped, kept the home merry 
and the community entertained, and amused. 
He was whole souled and light hearted in play 
as in everything else. 

HIS SCHOOL DAYS. 

Adner attended several schools, and quickly 
became attached to his teachers, and deeply en- 
listed in his studies. School life with him was 
but an opportunity for entertainment and fun. 
Merry and rolicksome his teachers, his books, 
his playmates, and his studies, were but the in- 
struments of his sport. He was ambitious to 
learn and habitually stood at the head of his 
classes. To the delight and amusement of his 
teachers and fellow pupils, like the bounding 
cork on the cresting uave, he made the school 
his plaything and the object of his love, and in 
turn became the idol of the school, enlisting aH 
16 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

minds and commanding the love and esteem of 
all hearts. He prided himself on good lessons, 
and promptness and obedience to his teachers. 
At home he made his studies a plaything, con- 
verted the house into a school room, answered 
to his own name which he would call, with mat 
of his adopted sister, made his mother teacher, 
and had a real recitation before going to school, 
all in fun. He was enthusiastic in each lesson 
and often startled his teachers with his bright 
and ever ready answers to questions. He was 
musical in nature, and fond of the hymns sung 
in the school, and had learned many old time 
songs which he delighted to sing and play on the 
harp. He was an expert with the harp, and 
mixed his music in with all his merrymaking and 
sport. During his life he wore out many of these 
little pocket instruments, and had one in his 
pocket when he died. 

HIS CONVERSION. 

Adner was converted at the age of five years. 
17 



ADNER WARD, THH BOY CHRISTIAN. 

His interest in the Scriptures and in religion was 
intense. Religious conversation always enter- 
tained him. He took deep interest in the Sunday 
school lesson, and in the church services. He 
was fond of preaching and the preachers. He 
was ever ready to hear the Bible read, and de- 
lighted to talk with his parents and others about 
its truths. He was fond of prayer and prayed 
over everything. As the pastor Rev. G. W. Free- 
nan rode up to the house on one occasion he 
saw the child on his knees in prayer in the near- 
by woods. In carrying on a revival meeting in 
the community the same preacher appealed to 
the congregation to pray for him personally. 
The sympathies of the child were so aroused 
that he went forward and said I will pray for 
you Budder Seeman. hugging him around the 
leg. During a drought his father expressed 
fears that he would lose his corn and pea crop 
for want of rain. Adner said papa, can't you 
pray for rain? Returning home he prayed for 
18 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

rain from the top of a woodpile, and it came 
very soon. The crop was not lost. One of his 
playmates was unexpectedly taken from his 
home to an adjacent community, which distressed 
him greatly. He prayed for his return, begging 
his mother and pastor to join him in it. The 
next Sunday morning he came rushing in joyous 
glee into the house saying mama, Jim has come 
back. He then ran out, met Jim, greeted him 
heartily and said. I prayed for you to come back 
Jim, and that is the reason you came. Ain't you 
glad I prayed for you to come Jim? He fully 
believed the Lord sent him back in answer to his 
prayer. When five years of age his mother was 
tl ought by the doctors to be fatally ill. Dur- 
ing her prolonged illness the father often re- 
sorted to a nearby strip of woods to pray I 
sick mother, accompanied by the child. Little 
Adner was aware of the dark shadow that hung 
over the home, and keenly felt the sorrow, and 
joined in the father's prayer, sometimes with 
19 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

him and sometimes to himself. On one Sunday 
morning in his father's absence he went alone 
to pray in the woods, and when kneeling by an 
old stump, pouring out his soul in prayer to God, 
he suddenly became happy, arose, slapping his 
hands, crying, and laughing for joy, with the 
tears streaming down his cheeks. He started to 
the house with his young life lit up by the 
heavenly flame, to carry the good news to his 
mother, but was stopped at the stable by some 
visiting playmates, and seeing them his feelings 
subsided. For two years the story of his joyous 
secret was not told to any one. After this how- 
ever he often said, I've got religion, why can't 
I get baptized? I've got religion. I've prayed. 
In crossing a creek enroute to church this was 
often his plea. Why can't I get baptized? I've 
got religion. I've prayed. He was persistent 
in the spirit of his religious concern, often weep- 
ing and sobbing ,asking his parents to pray for 
him, saying Do you pray for me? You are not 
20 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

in earnest or your prayers would be answered. 
On account of his age his appeals were often 
not heeded by his parents. In the home one day, 
with his face buried in his hands, he said, Mama 
do you pray for me that I may get religion? I 
pray you may get it when you are old enough, 
she said. But he said I want it now. One night 
when his mother was playing hymns on the or- 
gan and his father talking about religion, and 
specially about what became of the lost, he be- 
gan sobbing, when his father asked him if he 
wanted religion, he said yes and I want you to 
pray for me now. The parents and little Emma 
tnelt with Adner and prayed while his soul in 
sobs sought the Lord. One day, when about 
seven years of age, his mother read to him about 
the Good Shepherd and told of his love and care 
for the lambs, when he said, Mama how do I 
know when 1 get religion? She said, When you 
give your heart and life to the Good Man (her 
name for the Savior) and trust him in all things, 
21 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

he forgives your sins and makes you his disciple. 
Then you know you are God's child which makes 
you happy. Then you feel good and are full of 
joy, want to join the church and be with God's 
people. He quickly replied if that is it I've got 
it. When did you get it she asked. He then 
gave the simple child story of his conversion two 
years before in the woods at the old stump when 
alone praying for his sick mother. The following 
are his own words. You remember the big stump 
close to the bars where papa used to pray when 
you were sick; one Sunday morning when papa 
was gone I prayed by myself, and all at once I 
felt good and jumped up and cried and laughed 
and slapped my hands and tears came out of my 
eyes, and I wanted to tell you and papa about it 
and started to the house to do so, but met the 
boys at the stable and seeing them my feelings 
quit. 

With a full heart his mother at once wrote a 
note and sent it by the child to his father at 
22 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

work in the field, saying, I believe our boy has 
religion. The father anxiously engaged him in 
conversation on his religion when he gave the 
same simple story of his wondrous change. His 
father told him to trust Jesus, and in no case 
would he deceive him, and after that encouraged 
him to believe he was a Christian. Adner now 
sought the preachers and teachers and talked 
personal religion with them. Religion was now 
the absorbing theme that constantly enkindled 
his enthusiasm. He wanted to join the church 
and get baptized, as he always expressed it. He 
sought the pastor, Eld. W. G. Hubbard, and 
talked the matter over widely and much. Dur- 
ing a meeting held at the church he asked per- 
mission of his mother that he might relate his 
experience to Eld. G. W. Freeman, and if Broth- 
er Freeman said he had religion and his mother 
did not care, he would join the church and get 
baptized. One evening he came in great haste, 
when she was busy with a teacher, urging her 
23 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

consent, to see Brother Freeman at once as he 
was about to leave. He returned from the con- 
ference in exultant joy, saying, Brother Freeman 
says I've got religion. Now I want to go to the 
store and tell papa, Brother Freeman says I've 
got religion. Reaching the store in haste, he 
told his story to his overjoyed father, and added, 
Mama says if you don't care, I can join the 
church and get baptized. Though the father 
hesitated owing to the child's age he yielded his 
consent. After this when in the midst of a revi- 
val conducted by the pastor, Eld W. G. Hub- 
bard, at Haysop church, Adner came one evening 
to his father desiring to join the church that 
night. The request was granted, and he was full 
of the thought of it all the afternoon. Enroute 
to church that night, he asked his mother if he 
should go to sleep, to wake him up at the time, 
that he might be sure to join that night. Like 
other children he some times went to sleep in 
church and especially so when the services were 
24 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

prolonged. It is needless to say he remained 
awake that night, but when the door was opened 
his father suggested that he wait till the mor- 
row. Sadly he yielded to the request, as his 
father's desire was always his absolute law. He 
was afraid the meeting would close without 
an opportunity to join. He became nervous 
and almost wild and talked about nothing else 
that night. The child's deep interest in re- 
ligion and remarkable Christian experience 
had made its impress on all who attended 
the meeting. It was understood that Adner 
would join the church on Sunday mroning. The 
large country church was more than packed with 
an anxious crowd, with many strangers curious 
to see the much talked of child, and to hear his 
childhood experience of grace. Adner reached 
the church rather late, and meeting several of 
his playmates on the ground, found a seat with 
them in the back of the church. When the door 
of the church was opened by the pastor he won- 
25 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

dered if the child would quit his mates, press 
through the crowded aisles and face the great 
throng of humanity now anxiously awaiting the 
appearance of the remarkable child. When he 
seemed to delay his coming the pastor directed 
his gaze in that direction and seemed in the act 
of prompting Adner, when the father who was 
in front caught the idea and motioned the pastor 
not to do so, as he wanted him to come of his 
own prompting. In the midst of the singing, 
with pleasing face, he picked up his little cap, 
and with bold step pressed his way through the 
ciowd to the front, where he was welcomed by 
the pastor. When his turn came for examina- 
tion, on his Christian experience, the pastor 
stood the child up on a pew and asked him to re- 
late his experience in his own way and words. 
He told the story of his mother's sickness, of 
his father's prayers, of the frequented woods for 
prayer, of the large stump, and his kneeling 
there, of his sudden and happy feelings, his 
26 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

slapping of hands, laughing, crying, and shed- 
ding tears, his overflowing joy, and of his two 
years' craving to join the church and get bap- 
tized. The sweet face, the beautiful person, the 
charming manner, the musical voice, the rare 
and heartfelt experience in one so young, with 
the modest and unawed courage before the im- 
mense crowd, all greatly impressed the assem- 
blage, and made him the admiration and center 
of attraction to all. His bright mind and rich 
Christian experience were spoken of far and 
wide. He was baptized in the pool near the 
spring, at the old Haysop church, which he had 
joined. The cliffs encircling the spring formed 
a vast amphitheater that was filled with the im- 
mense throng of people, which indeed were a 
real crowd of witnesses, viewing as in the days 
of yore on the banks of the Jordan the sacred 
ceremonies of the sublime Christian ordinance. 
In the same cheerful and courageous mood he 
went down into the baptismal waters, and in 
27 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

the likeness of his Savior's death was buried in 
the watery grave, and arising in the likeness of 
his resurrection. When dressing after th baptism 
he said to his mother, Mama, I feel so good and 
happy, and exulted in his joyous feelings all the 
way home. He made request of his mother, that 
he should not wear his baptismal clothes any 
more, but keep them until grown, that he might 
see them in after life. 

HIS CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. 

At the age of eight years the church at Eolin 
was organized, when he with his parents and 
adopted sister joined, and were numbered with 
its charter members. Adner was constant in his 
attendance at church, Sunday School and prayer 
meeting. He was enthusiastic in reciting the 
Sunday School lessons, and always used his 
privilege of voting in the church conference. 
His child voice would be heard to say aye or nay, 
a* he chose to vote. In a revival held that sum- 
mer he arose and testified for Jesus, and in a few 
28 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

words exhorted others to a religious life. He 
took delight in asking the blessing at the table, 
and would often lead the prayer in the home. 
He was never called on to lead in the public wor- 
ship of the hcurch. He claimed it a privilege to 
give to every cause presented in the church. He 
took pride in making and keeping his own money 
and out of which he always made his gifts. On 
one occasion the pastor called attention of the 
church to the want of a stove. Adner was the 
first to rise and say, "Here Brother Freeman, 
here is my nickle to start it." The money was 
quickly raised. His sympathies were deeply 
touched for his cousin, who had lost her house 
by fire, and had escaped only in her night clothes. 
"Here Cousin Martha," said he with tears in his 
eyes, "is a quarter to help you buy some more 
clothes." He was ever ready for religious con- 
versation, and had special delight for the com- 
pany of his pastor and of pious people. His 
case deeply enlisted the pastor, who with much 
29 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

concern, saw in the boy a heavenly gift of rare 
promise and great brilliancy. He joyfully guided 
his enquiring thought, aided him in solving the 
problems of the Word, and fed him on the heav- 
enly manna, and in it all directed his footsteps 
in the golden pathway that led onward and up- 
ward in the higher life. Rev. G. W. Freeman, a 
former pastor, said of him, "I knew Adner from 
a little tot up to the time of his death. He was a 
remarkable child. At an early age he manifested 
a desire to do something for the Master. His 
faith in God was indeed wonderful as well as 
beautiful. In many of the trying ordeals of life, 
when strong men's hearts would quail, this boy 
with his simple faith in God, believing he would 
hear and answer prayer, would still hope and 
pray on. On one occasion when his mother had 
been given up to die, little Adner said "Mama can 
not die yet for I am praying for her that her life 
may be spared to us." During my pastorate of 
the church he would often climb up in my lap 
30 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

and say, "Brudder Seeman, I love the Lord, too." 
His great delight was to talk about religion. He 
would get down on his knees and pray from the 
time he was three or four years old, on till his 
death. He made a profession of religion when 
he was about five years of age. He wanted to 
join the church and asked me to speak to his 
father and mother seeking their consent for him 
to do so. "If I am small I am not too little to join 
the church," said he. "I am not too little to die, 
and I want to be ready." He was truly a great 
child. 

He was quick to learn and easily led when 
shown the truth, but no appeal could swerve him 
from his convictions of right. His life was mod- 
eled on the principles of strictest honor, and all 
were impressed with the beauty and correctness 
of his high ideals. At the age of nine years he 
was elected as messenger from his church to the 
Bibb County Association. In real enthusiasm he 
went to the meeting, and with other messengers 
31 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

from his church was received as a member of 
that body, and sat with the brethren in counsel. 
He was called the little delegate there and was 
afterward known among churches by that title. 

HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE. 

In build Adner was neither blocky nor spare, 
but symmetrically formed in every limb and fea- 
ture. His head was erect and modest, his hair 
black and silky, his complexion white, smooth 
and rich, his forehead full, his cheeks round and 
rosy, his nose Grecian and delicately chiseled, 
his eyebrows impressively arched, his mouth ex- 
pressing sentiment and intelligence, his chin well 
formed but not full, his eyes a peculiar brown 
hazel, penetrating and discerning, with a coun- 
tenance lit up in great beauty, and constantly 
varying expression. His hand was large, with 
long, well tapered fingers. He was not vain nor 
fastidious but modest and simple in dress. He 
was at home in any garb, and it was always the 
boy that adorned the clothes. His person ever 
32 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

lent a charm to his dress. He was uniformly 
cheerful, and fond of reasoning, and while his 
notions and impressions were strong, he was not 
stubborn. He esteemed counsel and had a mild 
temper, but was prompt to resent a wrong, and 
in the absence of his parents and teachers, had 
more than once scrapped with his playmates. 
When aroused, which required much provoca" 
tion, his onsets were furious till the battle was 
ended. When peace was made he cherished no 
malice for his former foe, but would divide with 
him his best gift. When his mates became way- 
ward in using bad language, or in doing ugly 
things, he would stop, and by refusal to partici- 
pate, and sometimes by open protest, would re- 
buke them. He never betrayed his associates in 
iheir wrong doing, to parents or teachers. He 
was fond of meeting strangers, and often sought 
their acquaintance, by personal introduction, and 
was ever cordial and polite, raising his hat to la- 
dies. He was quiet and manly, yet full of glee, 
33 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

aptly discerning the proprieties of each occasion, 
and artful always in entertaining company. He 
T&as the boy chum of the community, and the 
center of attraction wherever he went. He was 
a sweet talker, entertained himself with a wide 
range of subjects, and always eagerly enlisted 
others in his thoughts, and in turn was enter- 
tained by the thoughts and conditions of others. 
Two pictures, one at the age of three and one at 
seven years accompany this sketch. His charm- 
ing person is seen in the latter. 

HIS TEMPTATIONS. 

Adner was strictly trained by his parents, to 
say no ugly word, and to condemn such when 
said by others, and to shun the company of those 
who used them. One of his temptations was in- 
flicted by a wicked boy, who visited the home 
one day, in the absence of the parents, who cursed 
with such ease and heroic depravity, that he in- 
spired Adner's admiration, and who was soon 
joined with him, in his awe inspiring tirades of 
34 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

profanity. On the mother's return, she learned 
of the new role of wickedness, with her little 
hero, banished the baleful associate, ruined 
the rod and saved her child. When charged with 
the sin by his mother, he refused to deny it, and 
took the whipping like a man. That night and 
the next morning he seemed greatly humiliated, 
and looked cast down all day. Late in the even- 
ing he came in a penitent manner and voice, and 
said to his mother, Mama, I've said no bad word 
today. I asked the Good Man to forgive me and 
he has. Another temptation was brought by a 
negro boy whom he met in the road, and after 
some play, the darkey took from him his whip. 
In the struggle to get it back his passion was 
greatly aroused, and accompanying the fierce 
blows he inflicted on his antagonist he called him 
a black devil, and other similar wicked names. 
The heavy blows quickly restored the whip, and 
though Adner was victor he was now reviled by 
his conquered foe, who threatened to tell his 
35 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

mama of his wickedness. Then a truce was made 
and Adner promised the boy a dollar not to tell 
on him. The price was to be paid in certain arti- 
cles of goods to be gotten by Adner from his 
father's store. The child's purse was empty at 
this time, and being unable to pay for them he 
went to steal them, but his conscience failed him, 
and he left the store without them, went back to 
the boy, and told him he would take the whip- 
ping rather than steal, that he might therefore 
tell his mama, that he would not steal the goods 
for pay. The darkey true to his threat, told the 
mother, and Adner true to his expectations was 
again nurtured with the rod. One Scripture les- 
son taught him by his mother, that greatly im- 
pressed his life, was the wickedness of Eli's sons. 
Unrestrained by their father, a priest and judge 
of Israel, they became grossly immoral, in the 
house of God, and committed sacrilege in steal- 
ing the sacrifices off the very altar. Their de- 
bauched career was held up to him with the 
36 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

beauty of Samuel's life, and the terrible curse 
of God's wrath visited upon them she likewise 
contrasted with the exalted honors that came to 
Samuel. The beauty of little Samuel's life had 
ever been an inspiration to Adner. As likewise 
did his soul revolt in great loathing at the base- 
ness of Eli's sons. The one nerved him for noble 
deeds and great triumphs, and the other, warn- 
ed him of dangerous pitfalls ,of ruined lives, and 
of sure calamity and disgrace. 

HIS VIEWS OF LIFE. 

Farming was his chosen profession. His early 
inclinations to the farm were strong. He was 
keenly interested in the lands and in the farm 
products. The land, the seed, the planting, the 
cultivation, and the reaping, all enlisted him. 
Unlike most boys he was fond of work, and had 
delight in hard labor. He worked of his own 
accord. At the age of six years he picked fifty 
pounds of cotton by noon, and had need to be re- 
strained by his parents from hard work. In this, 
37 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

as in other things he did, he made work a play 
and went at it rolicking, singing, playing on his 
harp, and joking with his fellow laborers. He 
made the farm a field of sport for romp and 
fun. He took a deep interest in his father's 
store, and would help haul the freight, mark the 
goods and make sales to the customers. Some 
of his marks may still be seen on the goods in 
his own hand writing. He was more and more 
enlisted in the details of his father's business. 
One day he asked his father to teach him the cost 
marks of his goods. His father thinking him too 
young to know so important a secret, refused 
him, and he wept over it. He took it to mean 
that he was unworthy to know it, which gave him 
sore grief. He seemed to feel that he was ever 
worthy of his father's utmost confidence. 

More and more he became his father's daily 

companion and counselor. He was constantly 

planning for the future, when his parents would 

grow old, and the burdens of life fall on him. 

38 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

One fixed purpose in it all was he would never 
leave them, but would make them the objects of 
his daily thought, of his love, and of his labors. 
When asked by his mother if he would like to be 
a preacher, he said no, it would take him too 
much from you and papa. Then a dentist, he 
said no, that will hurt folks. He was sensitive 
over suffering, and greatly sympathized with 
those in pain. His father's knee was his accus- 
tomed place when in the home. One day when 
fondling with his father in his lap, his father 
said to him, son, when will you quit sitting on 
me? His quick reply was, till I am grown, then 
you will sit on me. He was intensely affection- 
ate and prayed every night, and often prayed for 
special objects. One night he continued kneel- 
ing after prayer, his mother thinking he was 
asleep spoke to him, when he said I was praying 
for Emma. He was rapidly coming into the lar- 
ger view and more definite purposes of life, and 
39 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

in it all was led by his parents and guided by the 
Lord. 

HIS CONTROVERSIES. 

He had a contention with some wild boys, who 
guyed him by saying he found God behind a 
stump. Adner endured this mockery of his reli- 
gion meekly and quietly, and soon gained the re- 
spect and confidence of the scoffers, and they be- 
came his fast friends. Some Paedo Baptists urg- 
ed upon him that he was too small to be im- 
mersed. In reply he cited John the Baptist, as 
f'.uthority, and gave a definite account of the 
Savior's baptism, saying he must follow wherev- 
er the Savior went; that if needful for Jesus to 
be baptized to fill all righteousness, and thus set 
the example, he also must likewise obey the com- 
mand. The negroes in the community became 
much interested in Adner's religion, and would 
prod him with questions, and scripture quota- 
tions, just to hear his ready wit and sensible an- 
swers. In passing by a wash place where sev- 
40 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

eral negro Methodist women were washing 
clothes, they raised with him the baptismal ques- 
tion, saying it was not water that saved, that 
there was nothing in the quantity, that a drop 
was as good as an ocean, that sprinkling or pour- 
ing was just as good as immersion. His reply 
was, why then do you immerse the clothes you 
pre washing to get the dirt out? Why don't you 
sprinkle a little water on them and carry them 
along? Their laughing reply was, You got me 
den John. His baptism was a sacred event in 
Adner's life. Everybody in the community seem- 
ed interested in Adner's religion and talked 
much about the strong faith of the remarkable 
child. 

HIS SICKNESS. 

In the summer of 1907, when in his tenth year, 
Adner was taken with Appendicitis, and for 
several weeks gradually declined in health. His 
condition alarmed his parents and friends, and 
saddened the whole community. A pall of gloom 
41 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

seemed to spread over the whole neighborhood, 
and old and young, white and black, spoke in 
bated breath of Adner's failing health. Could it 
be, that the angel like child, had been called to 
join the angel throng above, and thus leave a 
blighted home, and an aching void in many 
hearts? The best med'cal skill of the local tal- 
ent was exhausted, earnest prayer from the com- 
munity joined with that of the parents and the 
child, went up to God in his behalf. An opera- 
tion was finally decided upon and he must go 
to Birmingham to have k done. While this trip 
was pending Adner was greatly tried in mind 
and heart. It cast a dark shadow over his bright 
vision of faith. In faith he submitted his case 
unto the Lord and to the direction of his mama 
and papa. He would seem shocked to feel he 
had disobeyed his parents. He never murmured 
but endured his sufferings with cheerfulness 
and great patience. He dreaded the trip and the 
operation, and sought to postpone it to the lat- 
42 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

est hour. One Sunday while his father read the 
Bible, he put his face on his mother's and said 
JVlama I feel good. I am going to get well if they 
don't operate on me. After that he often said 
to his parents, I am going to get well, if they 
don't operate on me. Temporary relief did come 
ihat gave a gleam of hope, but the disease 
quickly renewed its hold and the dark shadow 
returned with increased blackness. He was 
bright and cheerful in all his sickness, his only 
gloom being over his trip to Birmingham, and at 
seeing the tears of loved ones. One day he 
threw his arms around his father's neck and said 
Papa you are too good to me. I am not worthy 
of you to be so good to me as you are. In broken 
accents his father replied, No son, you have been 
a good boy to your mama and papa, and are wor- 
thy of the best and papa will do all he can and 
spend everything necessary to save you. One 
day in playing the graphophone the hymn Rock 
of Ages, was played, and when the last verse 
43 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

was reached, being the following words, 

While I draw this fleeting breath, 
When mine eyelids close in death, 
And I rise to worlds unknown, 
And behold thee on thy throne, 
Rock of Ages cleft for me, 
Let me hide myself in thee. 

He said to his papa,, I'd like to hear that when 
I'm dying. He was fond of hymns and delight- 
ed always to join in the singing. One day when 
sitting on the floor playing with a toy he said, 
Mama if I die will I go to heaven? If you have 
religion you will she replied. Does everybody 
who has religion go to heaven when they die? he 
asked. Yes, she said. Do you feel you have reli- 
gion? Sometimes I feel I do, and sometimes 
I feel I don't, was his reply. I was lying in my 
hammock thinking about my condition and 
thought I might have to go off and be operated on. 
I went to praying and it seemed to me like some- 
44 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

thing said I would get well without an opera- 
tion, and I will too, mama, I will. Then he said, 
Mama if I die what kind of a coffin will papa put 
me in? The prettiest one we can get, she said. 
Then he continued, Mama if you were to die, I 
would try to get papa to put you in one like Aunt 
Malvina was buried in. By this he meant to say 
he wanted to be buried in one like his Aunt's. He 
was however buried in a beautiful white casket. 
Her's was dark. When packing his trunk his 
mother evaded him, but he followed her up and 
begged that his Bible and Sunday school book 
be put in the trunk. He also put in some pom- 
granates, saying, these are for the hospital 
nurse if she is good to me. He asked the bless- 
ing at the last meal in the home, but left his plate 
unturned. His appetite was gone. 

Before he left, many friends visited the home, 

lo bid the sick boy adieu. He had a kind word 

and utterances of triumph for each one. His 

vision of faith ever seemed bright. Mr. Met- 

45 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

calf asked Adner, if you die under the operation, 
do you think you will go to heaven? He said, 
I have prayed if it be the Lord's will I would like 
to live, to do all the good I can in the world, but 
if it be his will that I die. I want his will done. 
He said this not the least excited, but in a calm 
and strong tone of voice. The same friend said 
cf him. I often thought after watching his every 
day life, surely some day he will preach the gos- 
pel, and do a great work for the Lord. As the 
wheels of the vehicle glided through the waters 
of a pond, en route to the depot, he exclaimed, 
I've hauled many loads of freight across here, 
but I may never haul another, this crossing may 
be my last. He seemed impressed he was going 
away not to return. At the depot a crowd had 
gathered to catch a last glimpse of the pale face 
they had learned to love, and to waive him a lov- 
ing farewell. On the train, a tingling sound 
came in his ear, when he said, Mama, I hear a 
death bell. She made light of that old time su- 
46 " 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

perstition, that a ringing in the ear was a warn- 
ing of death in the home. Then he said, Mama, 
when one dies is he alone? No, she said, Jesus 
is with them and the angels come to them and 
minister to them and keep them company. 
You know the angels came to Lazarus in his 
death and carried him to Abraham's bosom, 
which is the paradise of God. He said, Mama, 
I'm not afraid to die. She said, son, do you think 
you would go to heaven if you were to die? He 
said yes'm I think I will. You know Jesus said, 
In my Father's house are many mansions. If it 
were not so I would have told you. I go to pre- 
pare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a 
place for you I will come again and receive you 
unto myself that where I am there ye may be 
also. Jesus is my true friend and will be present 
with me and help me, when I leave you. She 
said son, it may be Jesus will make you a minis- 
tering spirit and send you to guard your mama 
and papa when he takes you. Without a tear, 
47 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

he said yes'm, and I know I'd like to do it. 

HIS DEATH. 

When they reached the hospital the doctor as- 
sured him he would cure him sound and well, and 
appealed to him to be a man. When left with 
his father and mother the night before the oper- 
ation, after the assurances of the Doctor his 
mother asked him, if he was willing to be opera- 
ted on. When the doctor was talking to me I 
like to got in the notion, but since he went away, 
I don't know whether I can or not, he said. I 
can't do anything but pray to the Lord and trust 
him and do as you and papa say. It will not 
be done if you object, said his mother. Papa 
knows best was his prompt and final reply. When 
being dressed for the operation he asked, if I die 
who will dress me? Don't let strangers do it. 
I'll do it said his mama. The hopeful but heavy 
hearted mother then embraced the frail form and 
printed a loving kiss on the faded lips of her pre- 
cious child and left him and went from the room 
48 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

not knowing it was the last. She was excluded 
from the room during the operation and saw 
him no more till the death angel had borne his 
spirit away. Before the drug was given to put 
him to sleep, he begged to hold his father's 
hand. The two hands clasped each other and 
held till the boys grip was relaxed in the stupor. 
After the operation he recovered consciousness, 
and had only lucid intervals of thought for four 
hours, when the pallor of death spread over his 
beautiful face, the light went out of his eyes, his 
groaning hushed, and the child of promise and 
of hope had fled from the earth. During these 
last dark hours the father in hopeless distress 
went to and fro from the sick chamber to the an- 
guish stricken mother bearing in bated breath 
the appalling whispers that came from the sink- 
ing boy, till the fatal message came that all was 
over. Just before breathing his last, the attend- 
ants caught the names of Daniel and of John the 
Baptist, that he called. The spirits of these he- 
49 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

roes of faith it may be were pluming his spirit 
for the glory flight, or it may be, he was greeting 
them from the shores of time, and shouting to 
them the victor's triumph, as he went. This as 
it may be, we know death is the Christian's sig- 
nal triumph, and that Adner Ward was ready for 
his crown. He was prepared for burial in the 
home of his uncle, by the loving hands of the 
heart broken mother and father and by sorrowing 
friends. He was buried near Haygler, on the 
Mobile & Ohio railroad, at the old Liberty church 
Many friends came on the two trains that came 
from each end of the line that day, and many in 
vehicles from the surrounding country, to pay 
the last tribute of respect and love to the won- 
drous boy whom all delighted to esteem and love 
in life, and to honor in death. A gloom was cast 
over the whole section of country as far as little 
Adner was known, and the large crowd wept to- 
gether as they talked of the beauty of his young 
life, and joined in the sad rights of the funeral 
50 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

obsequies. The services were led by the pastor, 
Rev. W. G. Hubbard, who preached from the text 
— He cometh forth like a flower and is cut down. 
Job 14:2. He said in part, — 1. Childhood is the 
flower age of life. 2. The flower age is that of 
fragrance and beauty. 3. The flower is frail and 
is soon cut down and withers. 4. Jesus loved 
these flowers when on earth. 5. Jesus gives them 
a joyous welcome and a crown of glory in heav- 
en. Said he, Adner was a bright and lovely 
boy, and dearly loved his parents, his Sunday 
school and his God. His faith was strong and 
he constantly breathed the atmosphere of prayer. 
I often talked to him concerning his religion, 
and on more than one occasion he has told me 
when and where he found the Lord precious to 
his trusting soul. He was a bright Christian, and 
for one of his age, was well acquainted with the 
Scriptures. He was a cheerful giver and when 
a messenger to the Association and the different 
objects for contribution were presented he went 
51 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

and joyfully made his contribution with a beam- 
ing face. During my pastorate I have received 
into the various churches more than 2,000 mem- 
bers, and can say, without doubt, no candidate 
ever gave a brighter Christian experience than he. 
One touching incident that occurred at the fu- 
neral was the Sunday school of which he 
was a member came forward to the casket in a 
body to take a final look at the sacred form of 
their little comrade, now still in the hush of 
death, while the great congregation sat weeping 
in silence. They seemed to say, We have fol- 
lowed you now as far as we can go; hereafter we 
will follow your example till we join you in the 
everlasting home. The pastor penned the fol- 
lowing verses as expressing the truth with Adner: 

The king may have his palaces, 

No envy stings my heart; 
Grant him all his soul desires, 

I have the better part. 
52 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

Ah, give the rich their mansions fine, 
Where'er they chance to roam, 

But for me my rest is sweet, 
In my beautiful heavenly home. 

The grave was on the slope of the hill, in the 
Ward lot, in the old church burial ground, sur- 
rounded by the graves of several generations of 
his kindred dead who had gone before. Amid 
streaming tears, stifling groans and breaking 
hearts the benediction was pronounced, commit- 
ting the little treasure to the silent tomb, earth to 
earth, ashes to ashes and dust to dust, to await 
the sound of the angels trump on the resurrec- 
tion morn that would call the sleeping dead from 
the hush of the grave to life eternal, and the 
righteous to pleasures forever more. When the 
sun was sinking beneath the western hills the 
sad assemblage silently filed out of the enclosure 
and sorrowfully wended their way to their homes, 
leaving the little new-made mound alone in the 
53 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

city of the dead. Adner Ward was with his God. 
A statue of Italian marble, a true likeness in form 
and feature, representing the age and size of 
Adner at his death, will rest above the grave, and 
as the ages come and go his white, silent form 
as some guardian angel will stand as a sentinel 
over the sacred dust of the silent dead. 

GRIEF OF THE PARENTS. 

It is needless to say that the parents were 
crushed, with every purpose shattered and every 
hope blasted. They naturally raised the ques- 
tion: "Why the answer to our prayer? Why the 
gift of such priceless gem? Why such consum- 
mate happiness, and then why such calamity, 
such blasted hope, broken life and ruthless mis- 
ery? Our faith was like Hannah's, but Samuel 
lived and adorned the walks of men, while ours 
died. We prayed as did the nobleman for his 
son, and his son recovered, but ours died- Why 
this setting of the morning sun when it had but 
arisen ? Have we sinned, and is this a necessary 
54 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

chastisement? We have tried to live righteous 
lives. Is God mocking us, or where is the fault?" 
These questions sorely tried the hearts of the 
devoted parents, whose only trust was in God, 
and whose every hope was in the child. They 
cherished but one thought in life, and that was 
the raising of God's bright gift, so mercifully 
given them, exclusively for his glory. After an 
earnest review of all the circumstances attend- 
ing the sad providence, in great anguish of soul, 
and deep heart-searching prayer, in the light of 
God's promises, the Lord helped them to solve 
the problem of the mysterious disaster. The con- 
clusion finally reached was, a mistake had been 
made in performing the operation, that the voice 
of God uttered in the child's faith had been ig- 
nored in the decision of the doctors. Adner was 
profoundly impressed that he would get well 
without an operation. The child was Heaven- 
born. He had come into the new life, in the 
new birth, and was thus individualized as a child 
55 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

of the Heavenly Father. Now, did God speak 
through him? It was but reasonable that the 
Heavenly Father should speak through his son, 
in a vital personal issue. Shall the faith of the 
child, or the judgment of the physicians control? 
was the weighty question for the parents to de- 
cide. Human wisdom was brought into contrast 
and sharp antagonism with faith in God in the 
case. Earthly judgment prevailed and the child, 
humanly speaking, was brought to an untimely 
end, unnecessarily cut down by fatal human mis- 
take. God had made no mistake, violated no 
trust, failed in no promise, neither had inflicted 
any cruel calamity on the devout and faithful 
parents. He had spoken in unmistakable voice, 
through his chosen oracle, the faith of the child, 
and thus made known his will. The case was 
thus left to human responsibility, skill and judg- 
ment. Man's decision determined the fate of the 
child, and therefore God must be acquitted of all 
culpability in Adner's untimely death. It was 
56 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

through blinding tears and in deep heart pangs 
that the parents finally saw this uncomely truth. 
In sadness they often reverted to oft-repeated 
words of the child, "I've prayed and will get well 
if they don't operate on me-" God is not respon- 
sible for human mistakes, nor is he the instru- 
ment of the calamities wrought by them. Such 
doctrine is nowhere taught in the Scriptures. He, 
however, does overrule human mistakes for his 
glory and for man's good. It is in the light of 
this gracious truth that the silver lining is seen 
behind the dark cloud. Though cut down by un- 
timely death, Adner's life was a bright triumph 
and a finished success. Instead of being a fail- 
ure, though he died in childhood, his life was 
unique, beautiful, well rounded and sublime. 
Viewed from the divine side Adner is seen only 
in grace and beauty. By the will of man the 
human failed in him and brought disaster, yet 
God was working out his purpose in the dark 
event, and does so in every providence — his iove 
57 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

with the righteous, and his judgments with the 
wicked. All things work together for good to 
them that love God. Adner lived out the meas- 
ure of his days and came to the fullness of his 
allotment of years. God was honored in Adner's 
death, and it was for the good of the child and 
the profit of the living. The divine purpose thus 
intervenes with the Christian and transforms 
darkness into light, death into life, and calamity 
into triumph. In it human responsibility and di- 
vine sovereignty, in their seemingly contradic- 
tory yet harmonious relations, are seen to 
strangely blend. Thus seen Adner's life rescued 
from the darkness and calamity of human mis- 
takes, presents a paragon of glowing beauty and 
of sublime excellence. Viewed from every stand- 
point of greatness, except in the prowess of 
power, in which the vital principles of noble life 
are conserved and shadowed forth in human ex- 
perience, his life, though he died at the age of 
less than ten years, presents a well-attested 
58 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

model, not only for children, but for mankind. 
In him the world's childhood has made an 
imperishable record of earthly excellence, 
as does his bright example in the christ life 
furnish a paragon of eternal greatness. this 
k seen in the following deductions drawn from 
his remarkable career. 

1. His faith was unobscured by doubt. Adner 
walked in the light of eternal day. His vision 
of faith ever caught the radiance of the unseen, 
and the glory of the brighter world. To him 
God was a person, in touch with his creatures, 
directing every providence, controlling every in- 
terest, keeping every creature and appointing 
the destiny of all men. Doubts and fears were 
foreign to the life he lived. He walked with God. 

2. Jesus was his companion and friend. To 
Adner Jesus was a sublime reality and a personal 
friend. He believed in him, loved him, walked 
with him, communed with him, trusted him, and 
never doubted his friendship or present compan- 

59 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

ionship. Jesus was his ever-present counsellor 
and ready burden-bearer. To him he carried all 
his difficulties and wants, and upon him he cast 
all his cares. Jesus was his inspiration, his 
strength and his constant uplift. 

3. To him the Bible was the voice of God. 
Adner heard the book read as from the lips of 
an angel, fresh from the chambers of heaven, or 
as written by the pen of the scribe of God. To 
him every story was real, and every truth sa- 
cred. Its promises glowed in beauty and in real- 
ity, its judgments were terrific and black, its re- 
wards inspiring and grand. The book was the 
joy and light of his young life- 

4. Obedience was his primal law. Adner 
ever held sacred the authority of his parents. 
Their command or even suggestion with him was 
final. The very thought of disobedience to them 
gave him pain. The commands of the Lord he 
held in holy reverence and with a whole heart 
he tried to obey them all fully. He reverenced 

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ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

his teachers, and held disobedience to them to 
be a bad offense. With him obedience to right- 
ful authority was a primal law. 

5. Prayer was his vital breath. Adner be- 
lieved the Lord knew his wants and heard his 
prayers always for everything. He seemed to 
feel that all his wants must be carried to the 
Lord, and he expected every promise made by 
the Lord to be fulfilled. He prayed for the 
temporal just the same as for spiritual blessings, 
and believed the Lord could send rain, restore 
health or forgive sins with equal facility. He 
prayed much and joyfully cultivated the holy 
privilege of prayer. 

6. He cherished an ardent love for the truth. 
The truth in all its phases and volume appealed 
to him strongly. His passion for it was abiding 
and real. He loved the truth for the truth's sake. 
He would quickly resent the temptation to vio- 
late the truth, and if pressed against his con- 
victions would cry. Every feeling of his nature, 

61 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

every purpose of his heart, and every effort and 
ideal of his young life had its basis in the truth. 
Truth made up the warp and woof of his very na- 
ture. 

7. Love was his moving impulse. His affec- 
tions held sway over all his passions and 
claimed the right-of-way over all things in his 
life. The strongest and noblest passion of life 
thus fixed the conditions and formed the ties of 
earth, and forged and fashioned those of the 
world to come. He loved and was loved in re- 
turn. He cherished affection for everything, 
and for everybody. He lived to love and loved 
to love. Good will was extended to his enemies. 
No malice or hate rankled in his heart. He was 
the embodiment and expression of love. 

8. His industry was vigilant. He was fond 
of work. He was naturally indx/strious. He was 
no eye-servant, but labored as a freeman, cher- 
ishing a relish for it, and ever did it in light- 
hearted joy and real enthusiasm. Whether in 

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ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

material interest or Christian duty, for God or 
for man, his labors were zealous and self-sacri- 
ficing, yet he ever intermixed fun and artless 
play with his work. 

9. His religion was real. He had been con- 
verted. He reveled in the joys of the new life. 
He was wedded to God and held his inheritance 
in Heaven. He had been personally saved by a 
personal Savior, with whom he walked and by 
whom he was safely kept, in his all-pervading 
presence. His religion gave him triumph in this 
life, victory over death and a fadeless heritage 
of glory in the world to come. 

10. His joy was irrepressible. He carried a 
light heart. He hunted for the silver lining and 
found it behind every cloud. Like the overflow- 
ing fountain that ceaselessly sends forth its gush- 
ing stream, his spirit rollicked and reveled and 
gleefully played with every issue of life. His 
bark was ever on the crested wave. His sail 
caught every breeze, and his track was made 

63 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

in the sunshine and not in the shadows. 

The charm and enduring beauty of Adner's 
life are thus found in the great truths he lived. 
To rehearse them: Faith unobscured by doubt; 
Jesus the abiding friend; the Bible the voice of 
God; obedience the primal law; prayer the vital 
breath; unyielding integrity to truth; love the 
dominant passion; vigilant industry; religion a 
vital reality; irrepressible joy. These truths in- 
terwoven in life make childhood immortal. For 
bright record, clearness of vision, high ideals, in- 
tegrity to the right, and unmixed influence for 
good, Adner Ward may challenge the adult 
world for a rival. The truths reflected in his ca- 
reer supply the genius for the strongest charac- 
ters and the noblest lives. In these truths incar- 
nated in human life are crystallized the elements 
of enduring manhood that make men great and 
that give to the world its rulers, its law-givers, 
and its philosophers, and whether making laws, 

administering their precepts or enlightening the 
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ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

people, men are great only as they imbibe them 
and exert the force of their principles. These 
truths are the vital stones that form the temple 
of enduring character, and are also the light that 
fills that temple with the radiance of quenchless 
glory. 

Our closing thought is, Adner Ward's child- 
hood is immortal. God blessed the earth with 
the child and not the man. His youth will be 
unbroken, his childhood will continue and to us 
he will ever remain in the fixed beauty of boy 
life. His life is thus stereotyped in the heavenly 
model. The child-life is the ideal life of 
glory. Jesus said suffer little children to come 
unto me and forbid them not for of such is the 
kingdom of heaven. And again prophecy says, 
"A little child shall lead them." Adner Ward sat 
on no throne, wore no crown, swayed no senates 
with overmastering eloquence, commanded no 
armies, neither fought any great battles, but in 
his noble child life, freed from the sins of rulers 
65 



h 



ADNER WARD, THE BOY CHRISTIAN. 

and heroes, he illustrated in a simpler way the 
principles of true greatness. In him is presented 
the world's ideal of true excellence, and heaven's 
standard of real greatness. Jesus gave Heaven's 
ideal of human life in the little child and Adner 
Ward furnished the example. 

THE END. 



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